
Class JLS_h_i_5_ 



■V 



TMP92-007594 



Written by T. L. Vouglit, Elkton, South Dakota. 

i ........ .-... 

Sowieg Seeds, o^ Dibah's Revenge 





SCENE I.— Mrs. Vanwert, Dinah and children at home. 

Harry. — Yes, I see him coming! Now, Emma, gi t his slippers 
and d vn and we'll have a good romp. 

lapping her hands) 0, good, goodl 

(Enter Mr. Vanwert and children, who met him on the porch, R.) 

Mrs. Vanwert.— Oh, I am so glad y< te. Those child- 

ren 1 d taking turns watching at the window for yon. It 

e an age when ,. a way and we a re wai :hing for ; 

rn. 

Mr. V.— Ah y< s s, when T left th tnd strolled down 

of the light in our cottageand saw the shai 
ones at the window and it s< I. I ■! pped 

i a feeling of joy took poss< •■' my whole being, and 1 

like hushing all the noise and com et and lis 

tag to the voices and music within. Ah yes, how hallowed this spot! 

(he pictures on the wall; the cat on the rug; the old dog oi 
doorstep; the singing of the birds — all nent. Oh. howl 

love ray home (ah;. 1 fear too well) It is always so. when there 
is anything 1 so dearly love; some dark obstacle crosses my path, raid. 
with magic wand, snatches it from me and leaves me a forlorn 
wretch. On, if I were not look: the future, and could 

take today for its worth, and think naught of the morrow, all would 
be well. But no; like the wild stag in the forest that scents the hunt- 
er and hounds for miles away, and with the keen whistle of his nos- 
warns the young fawn of appr danger, so I can see tins 

hing danger for the youn land, and would warn them 

liey fall in vices that will w r ork uin. For the " enemy" is 

(constantly sowing the tares; from morning until night; wintei 
sun. II and spring; never tiring, sowing, sowing. 

Mrs. V.— You speak in riddles, my husband. I am aware they sow 
in th v and autumn, but I cannot tell what sowing is 

i it would be sewing buttons on Harry's pants. 
I do say it does keep me all the timemending and working my life out 
to keep him fit to be seen. And then, he is so noisy it makes me al- 
most crazy. I wish he would keep but of my sight. I cannot b< 
any longer. Harry, go out and let me enjoy myself a few moments! 

Dinah.— Lor bress you missie! you are a little nervous. Disdarkie 
would rather her child would make as much noise as a horse fiddle 
than to he up town loafing long with that white trash. 

(Commences to sing or hum "Going Back to Dixie.") 
Mr. A'.— Dear wife this pains me to see Hairy leave the house be- 
■ In- makes us trouble. We should b^ glad ( hat he wants to play. 
Only a few years ago we pressed his soft cheek to purs and longed for 
the time to come when he would be a frolicsome little fellow. B 
suffer a little inconvenience; bei ber have hischildish sports here by our 
own fireside than to thrust him out into the world where Satan, in 
the guise of a friend, is ever ready to ruin the young. 

Mrs. V.— Husband, you talk like a preacher. You are the most 
singular man to keep worrying about the most trivial things, .fust 
as if I would do anything to Injure the boy any sooner than you 
(would. 



?6 



*$& 



Mr. V. — I know you would not purposely injure our chilli, but un- 
consciously we often speak words or do acts which make our hearts 
ache all through life, and could we recall them would give worlds if 
we had them. But no, a word once spoken can never be recalled; 
never, never. 

(Bell rings. Dinah answers the call. Mrs. Snider enters. Introduc- 
tions.) 

Mrs. V. — Mrs Snider, my husband, Mr. Vanwert. 

Mu. V. — Mrs. Snider, I am happy to meet you. I have heard my 
wife speak of you so often that I almost feel as if we were acquainted. 
Please make yourself free at our home, and excuse me, as I suppose 
you ladies wish to talk of things which interest yourselves, and 1 will 
read the papers. 

(Mr. Vanwert reads.) 

Mrs. Snider.— Mrs. Vanwert what do you think of those long- 
faced church members. It seems to me they are becoming very self- 
righteous. Only to think my husband has started a nice little restau- 
rant, and fixed it up, oh so neatly, with a new fancy billiard table, an- 
other for cards, where the boys can play whist and euchre and such 
innocent games: and he sells nothing but a little cider. And just yes- 
terday, don't you think, the church sent a committee to have us stop 
our business. Thought it was teaching the town boys bad habits. 

(Mr. Vanwert frowns; looking above his paper. Dinah behind Mrs. 
Snider shakes her fist at her, then commences sing- 
ing, '"Going Back to Dixie.") 

Mrs. V. — Now you don't say; 1 do believe those church members 
will keep on until they get the ill will of all out-siders, and we will 
never be able to support our minister in the world. 

Dinah. — Lor bress you honey; don't you take the evil one into 
partnership. You don kotch dis chile playing flirt wid de deble, sure 
as your born. 

(Mrs. Vanwert frowns at her and she commences singing "Going Back 

to Dixie.) 
Mrs. S. — But, Mrs. Vanwert, I must be going. I left my husband 
and your boy Harry together. Mr. Snider says he is one of the smart- 
est boys he ever saw, and he is learning to play billiards so fast. Mr. 
Snider lets him beat sometimes, just to encourage him, you know. 
Harry thinks so much of Mr. Snider. 

(Mr. Vanwert frowns.) 

Mrs. S. — Now do come over often, Mrs Vanwert. 

Mrs. V. — Thank you, I shall when convenient. 
(Exit of Mrs. Snider.) 

Mr. V. — I think we had better drop some of our associates; espec- 
ially the one that just departed. It seems to me there is nothing but 
evil can come of this kind of company; at least I cannot see anything 
elevating about it. 

Mrs. V.— There it goes again! You wish me to drop all of my as- 
sociations that are lively and spirited and have none but long-faced, 
puritanical church members who never crack a smile oftener than once 
a month and then they are so sorry that they repent in sack-cloth and 
ashes. 1 like Mrs. Snider because she is so lively. What she has to say 
she will say to your face. 

Dinah. — Lor bress you honey. Quit going with that kind of folks 
and go with spectable people. You don't kotch dis chile mixing up 
with such low white trash no more sure as you born. 

(Singing "Going Back to Dixie." Curtain falls.) 



feCENE II.— (Saloon — Meeting of friends of rum traffic at Mr. Snider' s; 

meeting" called to order; Mr. Snider elected chairman; resolutions 

introduced: one member rises and says:) 

Friends and Citizens:— We have assembled here for the purpose of 
organizing a band of free drinkers and free thinkers, and we want for 
our motto LIBERTY. 

Full Chorus.— "Liberty-" 

Yes, friends, long faced church members are turning square against 
us. Preachers and laymen, women and children, are determined they 
will pledge themselves never to taste or handle any spirituous or 
malt liquors, wine or cider; and they will, in all honorable ways, dis- 
countenance its use in society. Now, my friends, I want to introduce 
a resolution in this honorable body. 1st. — That we pledge ourselves, 
never to pay any of our money to the churches; 2d. — That we work 
with all diligence to pursuade the weaker ones to leave the church and 
partake of our liberty; 3d.— That we put forth every effort to send 
out all our unprincipled men, to lure the young men and teach them 
to play euchre, billiards and other seemingly innocent games, in order 
to train them to drink and make us good customers. 4th. — That we 
endeavor, to the best of our ability, to inhance the sale of spirituous 
and malt liquors and so increase in wealth that we will demand the 
respect of the majority of the citizens of our country. 5th. — That we 
will pay 10 per cent of our earnings from the rum traffic to buy up 
men of the legislature to vote in our interests. 6th — That we pledge 
ourselves to always vote against Woman Suffrage, because therein 
lays the power of the Temperance Party. 

(One member rises to motion the adoption of the resolutions when a 
woman enters crying and ringing her hands.) 

Poor Woman.— Oh, Mr. Snider! Where is my husband? My child 
is dying! 

Crowd.— (pointing to a chair) There he is sleeping. He's a sweet 
subject to go to a funeral. 

Poor Woman. — Mr. Snider, pray awaken him; I must have 

Mr. Snider. — Begone, I say. woman; this is a respectable party 
and we cannot be disturbed. Begone, 1 say! (Drives the woman of 
stage, L.) 

(Governor Demorest in the act of drinking, sets down his glass.) 

Gov. D. — Now, boys, it may be respectable to make fun of a poor 
mother when afflicted, and drive her from your presence; but if this is 
respectability, I hope my breath may stop if I ever taste another drop 
of the accursed stuff. Here before God and man I dosware to abstain 
from all intoxicating drinks. Painful as this scene has been to me, it 
has sealed my purpose for life on the side of total abstainance. 

Mr. S. — Well, now! What has come across you? AVould you will- 
fully throw away your manhood and go over to those howling chris- 
tians, and loose all your influence forever? You must be crazy. 

Gov. D. — Snider, I hope the wailing of that poor mother has 
brought me to my senses again. Hereafter my greatest endeavor 
shall be to so guard against the infernal stuff that it will never rob 
me of my senses again. 

Mr. S. — Gov. Demorest, consider well what you are doing when 
you make such resolutions. Remember we have elected you to a very 
high office and made you what you are today. Remember if we turn 
our influence against you, you are forever thrown out of office and 
must seek your living some other way. Remember we make men and 
we also break them. It: is our influence that elects men to office from 
constable up to the position that you occupy. The course you are 
about to take may be the means of cutting off your head politically. 
Right here in our saloons elections are sometimes held. Even the 



president of the United States owes his election to us. We never cast 
our vote for any God and morality man if we know it. So beware 
what you do. 

Gov. D — Mr. Snider, I have fully determined the course I will take. 
I have so much forsaken my manhood as to patronize your infernal 
den, and listen to your pupils under the influence of liquor bring up 
the names of the most virtuous and innocent women of our land and 
endeavor to bring them into disrepute with their fiendish tongues. 
All, too well I know that you put a bridle on christian people and tell 
them just how far they can go. Too well I know the clergy some- 
times hesitate to tell the whole truth for fear of offending the whiskey 
element. Ah, yes, tonight my conscience keeps saying, "how long, oh 
how long shall this be. How long must the Great American Eagle 
grovel in the dust and soil her beautiful plumage before she can rise 
above this low groveling element. 

(Snider and others rush at him and he knocks them down, etc.; Cur- 
tain falls.) 



# * * * 



SCENE III.— Mr. and Mrs. Yanwert, Dinah and Emma at home. 
Mrs. V.— I wonder where Harry is tonight. He never staid out so 
late before. If he does not come soon some of us must go and look for 
him. 

(Bell rings; Dinah answers the call; Gov. Demorest enters; Dinah of- 
fers him a chair; a friendly greeting; etc.) 
Gov. D. — Mr. Yanwert, I hope you will not consider me meddle- 
some if I mention a matter of which, perhaps, you are unaware. 
Your little boy, Harry, is at Mr. Snider's saloon playing cards; and I 
fear he is learning bad habits. My advice to you, as a friend, is to 
keep him away from that place, or you may sometime, later in life, re- 
pent. 

(Mr. Yanwert looks downcast.) 

Mr. Y. — Oh, that terrible place! I must go and get him at once. 

Gov. D. — My advice to you is to do so. I have patronized that 
rum hole for the last time. And I think if I live many years I will al- 
ways remember my parting with those — friends. 

Mrs. V. — I suppose the parting scene was very affecting. 

Gov. D. — It was, indeed, or rather, very striking. I am a little 
ashamed of it. But the fact is, when I attended college in my young- 
er days, the students, myself among others, practiced fencing. And 
from that time until tonight 1 have not had occasion to put it into 
practice. But when three or four burly fellows came at me I was 
compelled to strike from the shoulder, and I dropped some of them on 
the floor. By this you will see that the scene was very striking. 

(Dinah laughs very heartily and holds her sides; Mrs. Yanwert looks 

or frowns at her; Dinah commences singing "Going 

Back to Dixie.") 

Gov. D. — But I must be going. Mrs. Thurston came into the sa- 
loon and called for her drunken husband to come home. Shesaid that 
her child was dying. But he was too drunk to realize what was the 
matter; so he remained in a stupor. I intend to call there for she may 
need assistance, 

(Gov. Demorest leaves and Harry enters.) 
Mr. V.— Where have you been tonight, my son? Pretty late for 
boys to be out. What have you been doing? 

Harry.— I— I went to Mr. Smith's. John and I rehearsed our dia- 
logue for the next exhibition. 

Dinah.— Now dem tares 'gin to grow. Dat chile has learn to lie, 
suah; 



(Goes on about her work singing "Going Back to Dixie.") 
Mr. V. — Now children, yon may retire, and Harry you pray God 
to forgive all yon have done that is wrong and promise to do better 
in the future. 

(Emma kisses her papa and mamma and then takes Dinah's hand,a.ll 

three leave»the room.) 

Mrs. V.— Husband. I am so alarmed about Harry. Did you notice 
that he told an absolute lie? 

Mr. V. — Yes. wife, and it is only a natural outgrowth of bad com- 
pany. We must endeavor to cultivate the better part of that boy's 
nature and ask ourselves if it is safe to trust him longer in the com- 
pany of one who is constantly sowing the seeds of satan and choking 
the good and noble of his young life. Let us this night pledge our- 
selves never again to utter one word against the christian churches; 
let their imperfections be what they may. Our children arenot taught 
to lie. which if they do. is establishing a precedent that will under- 
mine all our civil institutions, rob us of our liberty and drift us into 
barbarism. 

Mrs. Y. — I must go and see my darling Harry once more before I 
retire. (She goes and looks in his room.) Ah, he sleeps! My darling 
boy! I drove you from my presence to be cast among wolves who 
have poisoned your mind and taught you to burn your childish lips 
with a lie. I see your little boots so snugly put away by your bedside. 
Precious child, can it be that my fondest hopes are so soon to be blast- 
ed! Oh, why did I utter those terrible words? Can I recall them'.' 
No, no, no! Oh, if some power could place you back in my arms again 
in your infancy that I might profit by sad experience, and have more 
wisdom to conduct myself in the future. What if you did make me 
some trouble? What if your childish laugh did make uie nervous. 
Ah, it would be music to me now compared to that terrible falsehood. 

(Mrs. Yanwert weeps; Mr. and Mrs. Vanwert kneel in attitude of 
prayer as the curtain falls; tableau at Mrs. Thurston's.) 

* * * * • 

* * * 

SCENE TY. — Emma, Harry and Dinah at home. 

Emma. — Harry, Frank has concluded that he and I will be married 
the same time you are and we will go west together. Tell me what 
you think of Frank for a husband? 

Harry. — I am glad yon have made so fine a choice. Frank is a 
good fellow, always lively, none of your deaconism about him. But 
t know one thing, father does not like him. I heard him say that he 
was the most inconsiderate fop he ever saw. He met him in a street- 
car the other day and he kept his cigar in his mouth and smoked un- 
til the conductor. requested him to stop on account of disturbing the 
ladies. 

Emma. — Oh, well, he isn't like father; and I am glad he isn't; father 
is so afraid something will go wrong that he will look ahead a life 
time for fear something will happen to his greatgrand children. 

Dinah. — Lor bress you, chile! Don't you spect your father has 
had more sperience than you? What do you know about the ways 
of the worle? Wait 'till you had a dozen more years on your head 
and see if you don ripen up some, honey? 

(Commences singing "Going Back to Dixie;" Harry and Emma leave 
the room; Dinah sings a whole verse while she is alone.) 

Dinah. — Well, here I is all alone. Massa and Missie gon to church; 
Emma out to the neighbors; Harry down town to old man Snider's 
taking lessons of the debil. And helearns berry fast too. Gony though, 
dat chile am de skeleton in dem old folks closet, suah. I do believe 
Missie Yanwert hab shed a bushel of tears over that boy. And the 
petitions dat hab gone up to heaben for him, if printed, would makea 



book ten feet squar. I elare to goodness, it seems as if dis old heart 
of mine would break when I see Missie weeping over her ruined boy. 
And Massa Vanwert am turning so gray and looks so sad I hardly 
know him when I sees him coming up the street. If I didn't know it 
isn't him I would a most a elare it wasn't. But here dey come. 
(Commences singing "Going Back to Dixie;" Mr. and Mrs. Vanwert 
enter; Mr. Vanwert lies down on the lounge; Mrs. and 
Dinan sing.) 

Mrs. V. — Oh, how I wish Harry loved books and newspapers as 
he once did, and would spend his evenings at home. But no; any place 
but this for him. Yet it is rumored he is to be married soon to Julia 
Snider. Oh well, he is lost to us anyway and become a drunken sot. 
and I am afraid will never be saved, neither in this world nor the 
world to come. 

Dinah. — Oh Missie! Dar am a power on high can save dat boy, 
suah. 

(Mr. Vanwert starts and awakes.) 

Mr. V. — After all it was but a dream. Would that it might be a 
reality; but when I awake it seems but the forebodings of trouble. 

Mrs. V. — Pray tell me your dream. It seems to give you new life 
and makes you look so cheerful. 

Mr. V.— In my dream I saw Harry struggling with demons and 
they held him in their fiendish grasp until he seemed to be yielding in 
despair. And my heart sank within me when they made their last ef- 
fort and were about to haul him into the gulf of dark despair. But 
just then I saw myriads of angels start from the banks of the River of 
Life. While crossing each one would plunge into the pearly stream. 
And as they ascended the pearly drops would drip from their golden 
wings. And they caught our son Harry and bare him away to the 
other side. Emma, Frank and Julia followed and when bright angels 
commenced singing songs of the redeemed, Harry's face brightened and 
he and all our children joined, and I too commenced singing. Then I 
awoke, alas, to find myself in the same unfriendly world where agony 
of mind constantly confronts me. 

Dinah.— Now Massa Vanwert, member what I say, dat am a good 
dream. Dis brack chile hab not been dreaming all her life fornothing. 

Mr. V. — But where are the children. It is only for a few days that 
we will have the pleasure of being with them. They will go west and 
taste for themselves the realities of fighting life's battles and tasting 
the bitter cup of revt rses and disappointments. 
( Bell rings; boy enters and hands a bill to Mr. Vanwert; Mr. V. reads.) 

Mr. Vanwert to John Snider, Dr. 

20 Games of Billiards @ 25 cts...$ 5.00 

10 Cigars @ 10 cts 1.00 

20 Drinks of Cider @ 5 cts 1.00 

Sundries 12.00 

Total $19.00 

Mrs. V. — Please tell me what "sundries" mean in every bill. 
Mr. V.— That question I will answer by asking thousands of 
fathers and mothers whose hearts are aching tonight for their sons; 
I will ask poor neglected wives who have scarcely any food or clothes 
enough to keep them warm; I will ask wretched starving children; ] 
will ask the alms houses, prisons and insane asylums; nay, if needs be, 
i would ask a voice from the bottomless pit, and methinks the burn- 
ing, hissing answer I could then repeat to you would be "rum! rum!" 
(A voice outside singing "I won't come home till morning.") 
Dinah. — (Turning to audience)0, Lo'd a massa! dat boy am com- 
in' home drunk ag'in. 
(Harry enters reeling, stumbles over a chair falls face down. Curtain.) 



SCENE V. — Mr. Vanwert, Harry and Emma ;it home 

Mr. V.— Now children, since you are determined to bemarried and 
go west, let us have a quiel wedding and pray God to bless theunion; 
and when you arrive at your home, lei t-hespiril of Christ guide yoii 
and the old golden rule be your motto. I now present to cadi of y i 
a check for one thousand dollars and a plain little bible. Take the 
latter and by carefully keeping its precepts it will be worth ten-fold 
more than the money. 

(Curtain falls.) 

WEDDING TABLEAU. 
# #' # * 

SCENE VI.— Western home; letter received from father. 

Emma.— Now Julia, we catch it again. Father thinks we can make 
a living by reading- those bibles. I guessif he knew our circumstances 
he would find out we had something to do besides reading bibles. 
But of course he is getting- old and thinks we ought to conform to his 
idea of things. 

Julia.— I always did think your father the most notional old man 
I ever saw. I suppose he is so conscientious that he would go with- 
out money before he would sell whiskey for it. But I have learned one 
thing, that if people have plentyof money, it makes no difference how 
they came in possession of it, both preacher and layman will bow to 
them then. 

Harry. — That's so Julia. Our business, saloon keeping, is becom- 
ing very popular. In fact, it is not expected that a man can be elected 
into office now unless he is willing to place some money in our hands. 
So you see there is no use trying to disguise the fact, whiskey elects him. 

Frank. — As for me, the old man never did like me anyway, and if 
he does not stop sticking his nose in my business I will give him a pi< tie 
of my mind. Now lets tantalize the old man by sending him a bottle 
of whiskey. Won't he boil over though? 

(Emma shakes her head; the others say capital; the bottle is sent: 
whoa is heard at the door; bell rings; sheriff enters.) 

Sheriff.— Is this Mr. Snider and Mr. Vanwert? 

Frank. — Those are the names that we go by when we are at home. 
What can we do for you? 

Sheriff. — (Drawing papers from his pocket) I am the sheriff of this 
county. I have a warrant of foreclosure on your personal property 
and I believe this furniture is on the list. 

Harry. — Sheriff, could you not leave this furniture until I could 
write east to my father and get money to redeem it? 

Sheriff.— Mr. Vanwert, I cannot grant any favors. I simply take 
this property. You will have to see the party you are indebted to if 
you make any other arrangements. 

( Sheriff steps to the door: another man enters; they take the furniture. ) 

Emma.— Oh, Mr. Sheriff, do not, I pray you, take this furniture. 
It is some I bought with the money my father gave me and I cannot 
be without it. 

Julia. — Oh I beg of you. don't rob us in this way: don't, don't. 

Sheriff. — My kind ladies, I am simply doing my duty as an officer 
and cannot listen to your petitions. Our laws are supposed to mete 
out justice as near as man can; but remember there is only one who 
can give to all their just dues. That is the Tower who reigns on high. 
I know it is hard: but your husbands lost their all gambling; mort- 
gaged your furniture for more and lost that. (Exit sheriff.) 

Frank. — Well Harry, what are we to do? We are stripped of 
everything we have and no money to help ourselves with. Don't you 



think if you should write a flowery letter to your father he would be 
induced to loan us about $3,000? We will have to do something or 
go to the poorhouse. 

Harry.— We will try it and I will write immediately. This is a ter- 
rible state of affairs. If we cannot get the money we are certainly 
ruined. But I will have to fell him a willful lie. 

Frank.— Well, what of that? Don't you tell them twenty times in 
a day for less money than that? 

Harry.— (Looking dowucast)Yes. and live them too. 

(The maniac enters now and stands where they cannot see her. When 

the women see her they crouch behind the men. She should 

stand where the audience can see her face. She looks 

desperately at Frank. While he speaks she 

slowly advances.) 

Frank. — If we can get some money we must try and replevy that 
furniture. I do not think the spirit of our laws mean that one man 
shall rob another in that way. They are the most heartless wretches 
that were ever permitted to live. If they had their just deserts they 
would have been in states prison long ago. They are notorious 
scoundrels. They got us drunk, robbed us of our reason and then 
ruined us. 

(The Maniac advances pointing her finger at Frank. The women get 
behind the men. Harry behind Frank: they all back towards a 
corner: sj leaking as she slowly advances: Frank tremb- 
ling falls upon his knees as she says "Go hide 
yourself," etc.) 

Maniac— (Hissing)Ha! Ha!! HA!!! You, Frank Snider, let me 
call up ail the ones you have ruined with your cursed rum traffic. Lei 
me call up my darling child, killed by the hand of a delirious father. 
Let me call up my husband, who died in an inebriate asylum. Ha! 
ha! ha! Let me call up little beggar children, and deserted wives. 
Let me call up those like myself, robbed of their reason, and ask them 
if there is any law allowing one to rob all of those innocent ones of 
the food necessary to sustain life. Ha, ha, ha! Monster of ingrati- 
tude! Scandal upon human nature! Reproach upon God! Go! 
hide yourself, if you can, from the face of a just Deity! ! ! (Pointing 
finger towards Frank; features rigid; {ill keep positions. Curtain.) 

* tt •::• •::• 

SCENE YIIL— Old home: Mr. and Mrs. Y., and Dinah. Bell: express 
package and letter. 

Mr. Y. (reading)— Dear Father and Mother; — We send you by 
express, a bottle of our best rye whiskey, knowing you are so fond of 
it. We hope you will prize it highly. 

From your son, Harry VANWERT. 

Mrs. Y. — Oh, husband, I fear the boy. e forsaken their man- 

hood and are again dealing out that poison stuff. (Weeps.) 

Dinah. — Now 1 'clare. Its 'gainst dis brack chile's principles to 
gib way to a temper, but if I had dat one here dat sent dat infernal 
stuff I'd take him by the ears and gib him one butt for luck. (Puts 
her hands up and butts with her head.) Here, Massa Vanwert, you 
gib me dat bottle and I puts it away and makes him sorry for dat. 
suah. 

(She takes the bottle and goes off singiug ''Going Back to Dixie; bell.) 

Mr. V.— I have a letter from the boys. (Breaks the seal and reads.) 
Dear Father:— We are doing an immense business, but are a little 
short of funds just now. Can you spare us $3,000 for sixty days? If 
you can it would be a favor to us. Yours, Harry Vanwert. 



Dinah.— Now, Massa Vanwert, you go out dar and see for your" 
self. Member when men engage in dat rum traffic dey is suah to lie 
too. 

(Bell rings; Dinah goes to the door singing ''Going Back fo Dixie;" a 
letter received from the sheriff.) 

A j R y _ (Reading)DKAR Sir:— I am sorry to inform you that your 
children are in very destitute circumstances and need help very much. 
If you can send them money I think they would come home. You had 
better send the draft to me and let me buy their tickets as they are 
drinking badly atid might spend the money for whiskey. 

Yours in haste, John Smith, Sheriff. 

Mrs. V.— Oh, husband! Can I endure all this? To think our dar- 
ling children, whose lips have pressed my breast; whose velvet hands 
have felt my face in the lonely midnight hours; whose least whimpers 
would wake me from my soundest slumbers; those who are a part of 
mine own self. Oh mothers! Oh fathers! You w T ho have a spark of 
parental love, help me save my children. Oh thou who ruleth over 
the destinies of all, in my most trying moments, pity. I am not 
worthy to call on thy great and holy name; I would humble myself in 
the dust. Make of me what thou wilt, but save my children. 

Mr. V. — Ah wife, now we can look back and see where the evil one 
went forth sowing the bad thoughts in our children's minds. It took 
deep root and so choked out the good that it became sickly and al- 
most perished and our children have become so permeated with evil 
that they have gone out and been sowing the seeds of satan and ruin- 
ing others. So we must now conclude that justice has at last over- 
taken them, and they have fallen into a net of their own making. So 
it is with society. Evil doers may be ruining the hopes of thousands 
right in our midst, and we fold our arms and say nothing. But let 
the arm of the law reach forth and bring one of those malefactors to 
his righteous deserts and we all rush like madmen, and say, shame to 
fine him so much, and rob his wife and little ones of the necessaries of 
life! 

Dinah. — Yes. massa, when I was a poor slave down in Georgia, 
you people looked clean over de heads of your poor drunken slaves 
here at home, and lavished all your sympathy on us, when you had 
a slavery here in de norf ten times worse den we had, 'cause ours en- 
slaved de body, but yours ruins both soul and body. 

Mr. V. — But, dear wife, what will we do with the children, if we 
send for them, to make them comfortable? 

Mrs. V. — I think we had better let them live in the old house for 
the present. We can help them get some furniture and spare them 
some of our dishes, until we see if they will reform. I trust it will be 
all for the best for them to be reduced to extreme poverty, for in that 
humble condition the Holy Spirit meets us and if we welcome it, it 
will open our way to a bright future. • 

(Here a center curtain falls just in front of the actors. Dinah 
an. v V. meet in front of curtain.) 

Mr. V. — Dinah, )ect the children home on this train, and I am 

going to meet them. Please have them a cup of tea and some refresh- 
ments. (Center curtain rises as they leave the stage disclosing Mrs. 
V. as before. Mr. V. and children enter R. Happy meeting.) 

Julia. — Dear mother, we must let Harry lie down on the lounge. 
He is troubled with bad spells, and any excitement will throw him 
into delirious fancies and it takes all of us to hold him. 

Dinah.— (turning to audience) Dat's delirium tremendous, sho's 
yer bo'n ! 

Mr. V. — Children, I need not tell you that a part of my life has 
been a sad one. Not that I did not put my trust in an Over-ruling 
Power; but because I could see so far into the future, that I often be- 



held obstacles which would injure my children. But now, when un- 
locks are getting gray, and I see the end of the race, those clouds pass 
away, and I see bright sunshine and hear my children singing praises 
to the Lamb who hath redeemed them. 

Mrs. V. — Yes, children, only a short distance around the corner is 
the old church, where your father and I attended meeting when you 
were little babes, and many times carried you in our arms. We put 
our trust in a higher power then, and have ever since, and our pray- 
ers have always gone out for our children, and now, after so many 
years, it seems they must be answered, and you saved. 

(Bell rings. Dinah answers call. Enter Rev. Demorest. Frank 
shakes hands with him.) 

Frank. — Elder Demorest, when I look upon your serene counte- 
nance, all my past sins come up before me like mountains, and I would 
gladly hide myself forever. Oh, the terrible sting of remorse! 

Rev. D. — Ah, Frank; it will never do to put our hands to the plow 
and look back. Remember there was one who said "let him that is 
without sin among you cast the first stone." Look to him with a 
prayerful spirit and all will be well. 

Harry. — Julia, I want to go away from this room. I see the old 
chairs and pictures that I so oft looked upon when I was young and 
happy. They remind me of the unheeded advice of a good old father. 
Ah, yes, of a misspent life! 

(Bell rings. Mrs. Thurston enters.) 

Harry. — (raising his head) Ah, another one comes to torment me. 
Mrs. Thurston, I saw you years ago, when Mr. Snider, my wife's fa- 
ther, ruthlessly drove you from the room when you were pleading for 
your drunken husband to come home, as your child was dying. Fa- 
thel Snyder has gone to receive a drunkard's reward; and I, a wreck 
that I am, will soon follow. Oh,those terrible recollections! (lies down) 

Mrs. T. — Nay, Harry, you are not altogether to blame for those 
things. Women and society play their part in sowing the seeds which 
ruin many. Listen to my story of a misspent life. Once I was a light 
hearted girl, and knew not of the cares and responsibilities of life. 1 
loved a young mechanic, and we married. Our income was limited. 
I saw many butterflies of fashion attending dances and places of 
amusement, and I longed to attend them. My husband, kind and 
considerate as he was, tried to show me the folly, saying, there was 
no harm in the simple act of dancing, but that our scant income 
would not permit us to spend so much money for fine apparel in 
which to appear well in such society. I became sullen and cross; had 
no smiles for him when he came home from his work, and like many 
other women of our laud, drove him away from our little home with 
frowns. He became a drunkard; my child died, and he soon followed. 
Since then a part of my life has been spent in an insane asylum; but 
when my reason returned, no one heeded my warning; said I was a 
poor old fanatic. Now while I live my voice shall be heard, warning 
young wives to beware how they choke out the good and honest pur- 
poses of their husbands. 

Dinah. — (enters with bottle) Dis brack chile has her ' venge. suah. 
(holding up the bottle) Say, Harry, did you eber saw dat 'fore? 

Harry. — (raising his head) Look at it father and mother, it will 
not hurt you. But for me it is not safe, even to smell its contents. 
Now, when I look at it, my old appetite takes possession of me, and 
I would willingly sell myself into eternal torment. Yea, even tear out 
my heart (clutches at his breast) to get one more taste ! But hark! 
I hear hissing sounds ! Demons are coming! Ah, I see their serpent- 
ile forms ! They are coiling themselves around that bottle ! Now. 
they are coming to devour me! They are in my boots ! (Reels.) They 
are gnawing at my heart ! (Tears wildly at his breast.) Julia ! Fa- 
ther! Mother! Help! help! ! (Starts to run; falls; curtain drops.) 



SCENE VIII.— Mr. and Mrs. V. at home. Enter Rev. D. and children. 

Rev. D. — Ah, yes, children; we have all had our experience through 
life. In the hastening^ to and fro, and in striving to obtain honor 
and distinction, we make mistakes by endeavoring to rely upon our 
ability. 1 have been blinded a great portion of ray life by ambitions 
and now when I review my life I tremble at my sad mistakes. I even 
courted vile dens of immorality in order that I might obtain the favor 
of a blinded rabble and be elected to higher positions of so called hon- 
or. Hut alas, when I reached it, I was thrown in the society of those 
thai compelled me to live a lie in order to cover up the debauchery 
and drunkenness of those holding high offices. Nay, let me repeat that 
of all holding high positions, not one out of fifty if weighed in the bal- 
ance of honesty and virtue, would amount to one feather in weight 
against the laboring man. After many years of my life, a scene in 
one of our fashionable saloons changed my course forever. And I re- 
solved, not only to be a truthful rrjan but to live and act according to 
my own conscience. Ah, when I embraced religion and took the min- 
istry, what precious seasons of peace took possession of my whole be- 
ing; what joy gave that sweet rest, and when I retired at night 
changed my dreams, from seeking the influence of wicked men, to the 
pictures of bright angels and their robes of innocence. This can easi- 
ly be brought about by relying upon God, and with a prayerful spirit 
cultivate the better part of our nature; and water the seed of truth 
and virtue; and remove all of the tares that so easily spring up to 
choke out all the good. 

Mrs. V.— Why Harry, what makes you look so happy? 

Harry — I have been to the old church, mother, and my eyes were 
opened, and I saw 

Mrs. V.— What did you see, Harry? 

Harry. — With my mind's eye,I saw the weakness of poor frail hu- 
man nature. 1 saw my sins, rolling up before me like mountains. I 
saw how satan draws the young, the middle aged and the old in his 
toils, with honeyed words. I saw the young enticed to the ball room 
by tine music. ■ I saw talent, fame and honor, tumble to atoms, when 
brought in contact with rum. I saw mothers and fathers sowing 
the seeds in their children's minds, which if properly cultivated would 
make them ever happy. And I saw the unprincipled ones planting 
tares to choke out the good. I saw the great battle between sin and 
virtue, and I trembled lest satan's armies would come off victorious. 
But the most beautiful picture I ever beheld, was the grayhaired vet- 
erans of Christ, over on the left side of the church, seated right where 
I saw them when I was a child, and on their dear old faces I saw the 
pictures of angels shining forth saying, ''This is the way, come'wilh 
us and we will do thee good." And when the choir sang the closing 
hymn, my heart went out to God in prayer that he would pardon my 
many sins and take me just as I am. And now, mother you see me 
a changed man and I want all my friends to see me tonight, for I feel 
like telling the whole world of his pardon and love. 
(All sing, "I'm Redeemed.") 

Mi{. V. — Now, friends, if you consider this picture over drawn, 
you will have to go but a few doors from your own home to see the 
Evil One sowing seeds that will be just as hard to remove. 

Dinah. — An' you, young men, be berry careful how you play your 
tricks on de old man. lest some day like dis brack shile somebody will 
have their 'venge. (Curtain falls.) 



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